Revision as of 20:15, July 7, 2013

The Troop Program Features include 36 Monthly Themes with Troop Meeting and Activity plans.Using this program, a troop will explore dozens of merit badges and Scout Skills each year.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to choose from dozens of monthly plans that other troops have used and refined?What if each monthly plan included sample meeting plans, activities, games, and PLC planning suggestions?That's what the Troop Program Features are!

By using this three-year program rotation, every Scout Skill is reinforced and Scouts are introduced to almost every merit badge. Some programs such as Camping, First Aid, and Emergency Preparedness will probably be annual themes for new Scouts with older Scouts teaching and doing the related merit badges.

Although rarely mentioned in the Troop Program Features, the Guide to Safe Scouting must be with you on all activities and applies to every activity. Also note that the Table of Contents is sometimes out of order because the real subject name is used instead of the chapter name. Both names are shown in the chapter notes below.

Yearly Program Planning

A successful troop meeting begins with advance planning. In recent research, the Boy Scouts of America determined that inadequately planned and executed troop meetings were the number one cause of boys leaving Scouting.

Troop meetings should focus on a monthly program feature, be fast-moving, and start and end on time. The program feature should be interwoven with the program at all experience levels: the new-Scout patrol, experienced patrols, and the Venture patrol.

Planning a troop program on an annual and a monthly basis is a new task for many leaders. Good planning and execution depend on (1) a Scoutmaster who understands the process, (2) trained youth leaders who can plan meetings and successfully execute them, (3) sufficient personnel in the form of Assistant Scoutmasters and troop committee members, and (4) parents who are knowledgeable and informed.

Your first step in planning is to utilize the resources available to set goals for the troop. The next step is to train your youth leaders in the planning process. Then give them the responsibility and authority to plan and implement the troop program. The final step is to get your troop committee and parents to “buy in” to support this “Scout-planned” program.

The program planning guide in chapter 8 of the Scoutmaster Handbook will guide you through the basics of planning, from doing your homework to securing parental support for your program. The monthly troop program features found in Scouting magazine are the other principal resources needed to run the program planning workshop.

Although not mentioned as an Advancement Opportunity, Entrepreneurship is how businesses are created. And the sales campaign activity is from the Salesmanship merit badge. Personal Management applies these business skills to help manage your life.

The suggested "Business" campout instead features an Orienteering race and a nature hike.

This chapter includes an excellent group project "Stranded" where alone and then as a group you decide what survival items are important. Includes answer key and explainations. Good for a troop meeting.

P. 96 suggests that "Older Scouts can concentrate on the Citizenship merit badge this month." There is no such merit badge.